I’ve just received word that Vibroplex is partnering with the European manufacturer SSB-Electronic to offer products like the Zeus ZS-1 SDR and Ecoflex cable to customers in the USA and Canada.

Vibroplex has stated that they are “offering introductory pricing for all SSB-Electronic products from now through the Dayton Hamvention will be posted [on the Vibroplex website] in the near future. The complete SSB-Electronic product line will be available for shipment approximately April 21st.”

Read full details about this in the Vibroplex press release below:

VIBROPLEX LLC TO DISTRIBUTE SSB-ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS IN UNITED STATES AND CANADA

The Zeus ZS-1 SDR transceiver

Top-of-the-line Ecoflex™ coaxial cable, the Zeus ZS-1 SDR transceiver and a revamped line of VHF preamps and accessory equipment are now available for delivery.

KNOXVILLE, TN. April 8, 2014 – SSB-Electronic GmbH and Vibroplex LLC are pleased to announce an exclusive agreement for Vibroplex to distribute the SSB-Electronic product line in the United States and Canada.

Already #1 for coaxial cable sales in the European Amateur Radio market, SSB’s EcoFlex™ cable features the lowest loss characteristics of any commercially available non-hardline cable and for price vs. loss characteristics tops many available small hardlines. EcoFlex™ is available in 6 different versions to meet any RF need through 6-8 GHz dependent on cable version. Need maximum signal delivered from the amp to the antenna? This will meet your needs.

SSB is well-known for their range of VHF high performance products including both standard and auto-switchable receive preamps, sequencers and switches. A completely revamped product line has been released for 2014.

The new Zeus ZS-1 SDR transceiver features outstanding specifications and an easy-to-use graphical user interface. This exciting new product will have a feature presentation at the upcoming Dayton Hamvention™.

Vibroplex is the oldest continuously operating business in Amateur Radio, in their 109th year. In addition to manufacturing a line of Morse Code keys for the hobby, they also currently distribute products for German radio companies Spiderbeam GmbH and Folding Antennas on an exclusive basis in the United States and Canada.

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Last Friday, if you were lucky enough to attend the Visalia DX Convention, you would have seen the debut of Elecraft’s new KX3 accessory, the PX3 Panadapter. (Many thanks to Eric (WD8RIF) and Michael (KD9AUR) for the tip!)

The compact PX3 form factor is similar to that of the KX3 (see photo above). Features/Specs include:

Amateur radio operators understand the importance of radio, especially during emergencies and following natural disasters. Indeed, the bravery and commitment of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association last year–in the wake of one of the world’s most destructive and powerful typhoons–is a case in point.

If you’re interested, I just posted the following World Radio Day message on my shortwave radio blog, The SWLing Post:Today is UNESCO World Radio Day–a day to celebrate the continued relevance of radio in the twenty-first century.

You can make a difference with radio. Here’s how:

Send a shortwave radio, care of Ears To Our World. You can send one self-powered shortwave radio to a classroom or community in the third world for as little as $40. In impoverished regions still without internet access or electric power, your tax-deductible donation of one radio can inform and empower an entire community of listeners.

Oh, and here’s one more thing you can do: Simply turn on your radio, and listen. I’m pleased to note that World Radio Day, although still a fairly new international holiday, is receiving increased media attention each year. After all, radio listening can be a wonderful, meaningful experience–as well as a worthy cause. So, enjoy!

Since I plan for this article to be a regularly updated, I struggled to decide whether to keep it here on QRPer.com or on the SWLing Post–I certainly didn’t want two copies and I didn’t want to separate the hobbies with two different posts. In the end, since I’m now the shortwave radio columnist for The Spectrum Monitor magazine, I decided the SWLing Post would be the best place to hold the post.

I plan to update this app list regularly to include new apps and remove ones which are no longer available. If you have a favorite radio app that isn’t listed, please comment on the SWLing Post. Click here to read the article!

One of my readers, Jarno (PA3DMI) over at the SWLing Post, just apprised me of Wouxun.us, who is giving up on the Wouxun brand (though he’ll continue to carry accessories).

Wouxun.us states:

“I’ve finally given up on Wouxun.
They refuse to correct a known defect* in their dual band HT’s.
They also will not support any warranty on their radios.
Over the past four to five years, I’ve replaced about 500 defective radios out of my own pocket and I’ve finally said, Enough is Enough”

While humanitarian aid continues to flow albeit slowly in some areas in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines, the Ham Emergency Radio Operator network stations are handling lots of vital messages.

The death toll has been put at 2,000 or so officially, even though estimates have been much higher.

Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ, of the Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA), said its Ham Emergency Radio Operator or HERO network is working inside the disaster areas, and sending messages on HF and VHF elsewhere in the archipelago.

He reports that the first improvements in the relief response were felt with cellular mobile companies beginning to restore their services in hard hit Tacloban.

The RADNET HERO station there had been handling inquiries about the whereabouts of people in the Tacloban and the nearby Palo areas, but when Internet services became available the pressure from residents was greatly reduced. The RADNET station could not operate after dark due to a curfew imposed to maintain law and order.

Ramon DU1UGZ said that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has now used the HERO network for several messages.

“It appears that NTC had an emergency meeting and decided to provide hams in the area with mobile rigs and hand-held portables.

“The NTC’s awareness of the importance of Amateur Radio is maturing and there are talks of our clubs training and maintaining stations at NTC regional offices,” he said.

The national agencies have relocated the Command Post to the Tacloban Grandstand. For coordination reasons, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Council (CDRRMC) has joined them.

Ramon DU1UGZ said that the hard-working DU5AOK station is left by itself in the second floor of city hall in Tacloban, with security, food, and logistics problems starting to emerge.

“We are urgently requesting assistance to sustain the DU5AOK station and ensure operations in the other hard struck areas are established – Samar, Panay, Cebu, Biliran, and the tourist area of Palawan,” he said.